Fact Check: Did Man Burning Pride Flag Set House on Fire?
newsweek.comAndrew Tate this year sharing unfounded conspiratorial views as the event began.One viral online post this week said a man got more than he bargained for while attempting to protest during the celebration this month, however, setting his house on fire as he tried to burn a rainbow flag.The ClaimA post on X, formerly Twitter, by The Halfway Post, shared on June 12, 2024, seen 9.2 million times said "BREAKING: A MAGA fan in Iowa accidentally burned down his house today trying to burn a gay pride flag."The FactsThere have been several reports from across the country of advocation for and acts of burning rainbow flags related to Pride Month this year.At the start of the month, the Colorado Republican Party caused uproar after sending an email that described members of the LGBTQ+ community as "evil," "woke creeps" and "godless groomers."The Colorado GOP also posted the message on June 3: "Burn all the #pride flags this June." There have also been reports of recent flag burnings in Chicago, Illinois, and near Mandeville, Louisiana, as reported by WGN9 and WVUE.The idea that someone set fire to their house in an attempt to burn the flag not only echoed these reported acts but appeared to convince social media users as well.One reply by user @MeltedDollParts, viewed 132,000 times, said, "Hope he had trailer insurance" while user @greg_kiser20, whose post was seen 135,000 times, added, "Why was he so embarrassed by his flag?
There are easier ways out of the closet, right?"https://t.co/ufv300sDmi pic.twitter.com/AzT3zuFNFvWhile the premise of it may have mimicked some of the authentic reports about flag burning, the post was intended as satire.The account which sent it, The Halfway Post, describes itself as "Halfway true comedy and satire" written by comedian Dash MacIntyre, whose X profile also says that he publishes "satirical Dada news@HalfwayPost."Other examples of The Halfway Post's content include jokes such as "BREAKING: Steve Bannon has reportedly decided to pledge to.